What You Should Know Before Buying Forklift Parts

Just as you will have to replace filters and tires on your personal vehicle, your company will have to invest in forklift replacement parts. The parts placed on your lift will play a factor in keeping production on schedule and your employees safe.

What should you consider?

Know the make and model of your lift
This basic information will ensure you get the right lift part the first time. It also prevents the wrong forklift part from being installed, which can lead to a lift failure or an accident.

Put quality before cost
While it is good to know your budget, do not buy the cheapest part without considering the overall cost to your bottom line. If the cheaper part wears out quicker and must be replaced more often, you haven’t saved money. Plus your forklift has experienced more downtime. Lost production of associates and trucks waiting on the line is often far more expensive than the cost of repairing the forklift.

Ask about alternate forklift parts
When working with a forklift dealer, a Parts Specialist’s knowledge is invaluable. Ask if another forklift part is an option. You may find another quality part that is more cost effective or a rebuilt part may be available. The Parts Specialist may also be able to advise if replacing other parts would be beneficial to the operation of the lift (i.e. water pump, gasket, fan belts, thermostat, etc).

Know the delivery schedule
If your forklift isn’t operating, having the part becomes an immediate need. During your search, ask the source if the forklift part is in stock and can be shipped right away or picked up. If the part must be ordered, confirm the arrival date is acceptable to your production schedule.

Be aware of the warranty
Is the forklift part covered under warranty and if so, how long? Although most reputable manufacturers strive for 100% quality, a warranty offers security in the event a part quickly breaks.

Inquire about extra service
When working with a forklift dealer, many offer the service of installing the part. If your company doesn’t have an in-house technician, having an expert put on the forklift part offers additional security. In some cases, the labor to install the part is also under warranty.

Learn more about forklift parts at Shoppa's Mid America by visiting our website. Need to place a parts order? Click here.

To Rent or to Buy: That is the Question

Purchasing lift equipment is an important decision, particularly when production at your company begins to gradually increase or a short-term project is undertaken. But when should you invest in a piece of equipment by purchasing it and when should you simply rent a piece of equipment to meet your needs? Use the following questions to determine if you should rent or buy.

Has the increase of business been caused by a particular event?
Almost every company has been touched by the economy and experienced a decrease in operation, so it is exciting to have an increase of business. However, it is important to research the reason for this increase and understand why it is happening. If you can’t determine with certainty that the increase is permanent, renting lift equipment is the better option. Renting lifts allows a short-term commitment, obligating your company to only a monthly, weekly or daily expense. Use a rental to maintain peak levels of productivity to ensure that your customer orders are met.

What is the length of the short-term project?
Short-term projects may be internal or brought on by a customer request. It is important to determine the length of the project and obstacles that can lengthen or shorten it. If your project is planned to be 6 months or longer, you may find it more beneficial to purchase a lift. Dollars used for the monthly rental can be invested into a purchase of a new or pre-owned lift.

Do you need a specialty lift?
While some companies have a need for a mixed fleet, your equipment may be standard for your operation. If a specialty lift is needed for a project, rental allows flexibility to have access to equipment you would not normally purchase. Only consider a lift purchase if the equipment can be used with long-term, daily operations.

Did your company budget for a lift purchase?
Most of us are being cautious about budgeting and setting aside dollars only for immediate needs. If business has been unpredictable, more than likely your company did not set aside budget dollars for a purchase. Keeping rental as your option decreases the risk of not having the cash flow you need for other projects or emergencies.

Are you concerned the need for equipment will become long-term?
If the increase to your business appears to be stable and long-term, paying for a rental may seem like a waste of money. In this case, select a Rental Purchase Option (RPO) for a new or pre-owned lift. The RPO allows you to put a portion of your monthly rental payment toward the purchase of the selected lift, but doesn’t commit you to the acquisition.

Learn more about how Shoppa’s Mid America can help you with your rental and new and pre-owned equipment purchase needs.

7 Steps to Effective Forklift Training

At any distribution center, lift trucks are essential to operation. However, they are only as safe and productive as their operators. So how can you ensure your drivers are competent to safely operate a forklift? What sort of training should you provide?

Any training program has to meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. OSHA’s regulations what topics must be covered by a driver training program and how instruction should be provided. Topics covered during training usually consist of a bend of “how-to” operating basics and safety information tailored to the specific site.

Training is available from a variety of sources, including packaged training programs, training from dealers, third-party consultants, and in-house instructional programs. Employers interested in hiring an outside party to provide its training must remember that they are ultimately responsible for ensuring drivers receive proper training. Customer Service Representative and Operator Trainer Specialist, Dave Medley of Shoppa’s Mid America says there are a number of steps companies can take to assure they are offering a sound program. Here are a few pointers:

1. Check the credentials. Before bringing in an outside firm, make sure the trainer is qualified, both by experience and on paper. Medley urges customers to check trainers’ credentials to ensure that they are certified. Most major lift truck manufacturers and a number of third-party training organizations offer to certify trainers who complete their programs. Be wary of a training company that offers a one-size-fits-all training program, Medley warns. Since OSHA regulations require training to be both specific to the vehicle and the application, it is unlikely any one-size-fits-all program would meet OSHA requirements, he says.
2. Start with a site visit. Medley emphasizes that the first step for any trainer developing a program for a specific client is a site visit. Because conditions can vary from one operation to the next, it is important for the trainer to visit with the customer to get an idea of the challenges he or she faces. Site visits also offer an opportunity for the trainer to gather information on the composition of the fleet, what shifts it operates, and the qualifications of operators already working in the facility so it can design a program that addresses the customer’s specific needs. “Shoppa’s offers a variety of training programs including on-site training, train the trainer programs, video training, operator permits, and e-learning courses to fit the varying needs of our customers.”
3. Ensure the program is thorough. Lift truck operator training is about more than just starting, driving, steering, and manipulating forks. An effective program should also cover “off the truck” activities like pre-shift inspections and safe battery handling. For example, Shoppa’s Mid America promotes its “Train the Trainer” program that consists of one-on-one instruction and includes such topics as lift truck fundamentals, balance, stability and capacity, pre-operation inspections, safety guidelines, load handling, proper fueling, and battery charging, as well as an overview of OSHA regulations.
4. Provide time for classroom instruction. Classroom instruction can vary from a few hours to a full day, depending on the specific requirements of an operation, the size of the class, and the experience of the operators. Classes typically contain both new operators and experienced drivers taking instruction for the mandated recertification. Shoppa’s Mid America provides a monthly training session open to new and experienced operators alike, and provides instructional material in a variety of formats including videos, PowerPoint presentations, lectures, printed materials, and e-learning courses.
5. Provide the time, space, and vehicles for hands-on training. Although the basics can be covered in the classroom, there are some things that can only be learned on the equipment, such as safe load handling and maneuvering. “Give trainees the opportunity to observe an experienced person, then some time to operate on their own,” Medley says. While hands-on training can be conducted off-site or after hours, many companies end up doing it in a relatively quiet portion of an active distribution center. As for the equipment used in the training, Medley emphasizes that it is not enough to simply train drivers to operate a specific class of vehicle. Because variations in design from one make of vehicle to the next, it is important that they receive training on the specific brand of truck they will be operating. And it is not just the make and type of truck that matters; the model matters too. Even within brands, new or upgraded models of existing trucks may require some vehicle-specific training.
6. Evaluate and certify. “You need to have some kind of evaluation of the operator’s skill,” Medley says. That requires an evaluator who is not shy about stating that a would-be lift truck operator is not up to the job. It is important to note that while professional trainers will offer all of the components of a program, including a formal evaluation, the actual certification is up to the employer.
7. Train pedestrians, too. Lift truck operators are not the only workers at risk in a busy distribution center. People working around these vehicles face hazards as well. To reduce the risk of accidents and pedestrian injuries, some programs, like the one offered at Shoppa’s Mid America, include specific safety training for dockworkers and others who work around lift trucks but do not operate them.

Shoppa's Mid America is proud to help you with all of your forklift and safety training needs. For more information, visit our Training page on our website.